Chair back



w. J. JOHNSON Er AL July 1, 1930.`

CHAIR BACK OR REST s" sheets-sneet- 1` Filed July 1.4, 1927 c/f/yeyy/o'g/g/f fWiZErc/ Jai/755.72 HP2/Z712? -Ja/77550.72

July l, 1930! w. JQJOHNSON ETAL] CHAIR BACK OF. REST Filed July 14, 1927 July 1 w30-l w. J. JOHNSON ETAL 1,759,234

CHA EST v IR BACK OR R Y s sheets-sheet. s Filed July 14, 1927 Way/m 25 24% MdL/Hugin A L- m2255712 Patented July l, 1930 l UNITED STATES PATaNroFnca 4 'WALTER J'. JOHNSON, OF EVANSTON, AND .ARTHUR`L JOHNSON, OF OAK Pm,

:Lamers cnam non v .ApplicationS led July 14,

This invention relates to improvements in chair backs, and is particularly directed to a chair back'for use with a chair of the general type used by stenographers and others who 5 desire a support for the small of the back.

In chairs as heretofore constructed, it is the usual practice to adjustably mount the forked arms or uprights at the back of the chair but the back ad or back member carried by these uprights does not acurately fit the back of the user and when the u rights are adjusted, .the angularity of the back is altered in a manner, to roduce discomfort.

This invention is desi ed to overcome the defects noted above an objects of such inventon are to provide a novel form. of chair back which is so made thatalthough the uprights may beA adjusted, as required, that nevertheless, the chair back will automaticaly 1y adjust itself to the exact needs of the user.

A further object'of this invention is to rovide a novel form of chair back which isfpivotally carried on the upright or uprights and which automatically returns to an approximately vertical position-when the operator leaves his seat, and which instantly adjusts itself to his exact requirements when the chair is again-occupied.

Further` objects are to provide a novel form of chair back in which contact with any bony portion ofthe body is whollyl avoided and the chair back is so contoured and formed/that i't fits aroundthe back of the user without binding against any portion of the back bone, butv which furnishes the requisite supportffor the back at the small of the back, where it is-most needed, and which although provided with a rigid frame, never- 40 theless is so padded and formed that a yieldingcushion-likestructure is attained.

Embodiments of the invention-is shown'in the accompanying drawings inwhich':

' Figure 1 vis a frontl elevation of the Chai! 1927. serial No. aos voi.

JFigure 2 is a) sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure .1; Y. v Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3:--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view from the front'ofithe lto chair back with the cover and padding removed and with parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on 'the line 5-5 of Figure 4; i

Figurev 6 is a sectional view on the line 6l 6-6 of Figure 4; 1

Figure 7 is a\side elevation of the upper portion of a chair equipped with the back;

Figure 8 is a front view of the upperportion of the chairwith parts broken away;

Figure 9 is a view of a modified form of back showing the frame partly in section and the .padding and associated flexible sheets removed; b Fl'gure 10 is a sectional view through the 05 91C i Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of theattaching clip carried by the upright.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 to 6, it will be seen .that the'char 70 back comprises a rigid frame formed ofI a pair of side members 1 atop 2 and a bottom member 3. It is to be noted particularly from Figure 2, that the bottom member isA materially lar er and heavier than the top member and t at the side members 1 taper towards the bottom member in a gradual manner,A This latter construction is shown most clearly in Figure 5, from which it will also be seenthat the members are curved, 80 particularly the side members 1, so that they arch outwardly or forwardly, as shown.

It is to be noted also that the top and bottom members are inwardly curved, or in other words, are arched rearwardly; for example, 35 the bottom member 3 has been shown in Figure 6 to bring. out this construction.

A. pair of cross straps 4 and 5 of inelastic material is secured to the front face of the marginal frame members, just described, and

these inelastic strap members are covered by an inelastic member 6, positioned in front of the inelastic straps, as shown in Figure 4. These inelastic members are freely yielding and when in final position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, they are bowed rearwardly a `slight distance. This bowing is caused by 1 and 3. rlhis flexible cover and the padding and the inelastic members 4, 5, and 6, cooperate to position the cover 8 substantially straight across, as measured along a horizontal line and shown in Figure 3, and slightly bulged, as measured along a vertical line and shown in Figure 2. The rearward bowing of the inelastic members 4, 5, and 6 prevents any further sagging of these members, as the component of their pull is forwardly and thus a further deflection of them is prevented. ln other words, the padding` is not interposed with the cover bowed very far outwardly and the back members straight, but is so positioned that the back members are bowed rearwardly and the cover is substantially straight except for a slight bowing as measured along a vertical line and described above.

lit is to be noted particularly that the padding 7 or filling, extends between the 'marginal frame and the cover and gradually tapers outwardly or'thins as the side edges of the marginal frame are approached, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The thickest portion of the padding is located vcentrally where it is most needed.

1t is to be noted particularly that the bottom member 3 arches upwardly adjacent its center, as indicated by the reference character j 9 in Figure 4, so that the back is Iprovided with an upwardly cut bottom edge and with downwardly extending corners. This form of the back is also shown in Figures 1 and 8, and it is to be noted .that the construction is such that the corner portions extend a slight distance around the sides ofthe operator at the eshy portion of his back and removed rom the spinal column. At the spinal column the back is cut upwardly, as described above, so as to avoid any cutting at this point. 1n addition to this, the paddinginterposed between the mar inal frame and the cover guards against this. undesirable effect.

The net result of this construction is that there is no uncomfortable cutting or binding of the back of the seat against the back -of the user, but instead the back of the seat conto the small of the back of forms accurately the user.

The back of the seat', it will be noted from Figures 2 and 5, is provided with a pair of alpertures 10 through its side portions 1 and ese apertures'are located above the center line of the back. n addition to this, the weight of the frame is greater adjacent its bottom portion. From these two conditions, it is apparent that the center of gravity of the seat is at a point spaced a material distance below the axis of the apertures 10. From Figures 7 and 8, it is readily seen that a pivot bar or rod 11 is passed through these apertures 10` 'and is carried by the uprights or upwardly extending arms 12, hereinafter described in greater detail. rlhus, theback of the seat is pivoted above an axis spaced above its center ot gravity and the back is conseguently, a full floating back which :freely adgusts itself to the exact requirements of the user and which always automatically returns to an approximately vertical position when the chair is not occupied, so that it is in a position adapted for instant use without any adjustment on the part of the operator.

'Various means may be employed forsupporting the end of the rod 11. 1n the form shown in 'Figure 8, a pair of knobs or sleeves 13 are screwed upon the threaded outer ends of the rod 1-1, it being noted that such threaded ends are reduced to rovide shoulders 14 adjacent the edges of t e back of the seat. Further, it is to be noted that a lock nut in the form of a washer 15 is screwed tightly against these shoulders and the sleeve of the bearing member 13/is screwed tightly against the lock nut. Thus, the spacin `between the enlarged head of t-he sleeve or caring member 13 and the lock nut 15 is fixed and this spacing is sli htly greater than the thickness of the uprig ts 12. Thus, there can be no binding at this portion of the structure and the bearing members 13 freely turn within the apertured portions of the uprights 12. It v ispreferable to provide each headed portion of the bearing members 13 with a screw driver receiving slot, as shown lin Figure 7.

. rlhe uprights 12 are adjustable and yield ingly held in any desired position relatively to the seat 16 in an usual or customary manner. The details o this construction have not been shown as it maybe conventional.

Further, it is desirable to. pivotally and yleldingly mount-the seat upon the head 17 ofthe screw 18 in the customary manner'. i

1t is to be noted however that the uprights 12 are arched rearwardly at the point indicated by the reference character 19 so as to accommodate portions of the user without,-

any chance of binding against his body,so that the entire forward thrust against the body of the user is borne by the full oatin completely padded back. Thus, users o widely diiering builds or physiques are acy type of -4125 chair and the utmost comfort is attaine commodated by this self-adjusting .a single upright 20. I This single upright is positioned centrally of the back and is provided with an attaching clip 21 having in' turned tongues or faces .22 which are apertured for the reception of the screws 23 (see Figure l0).

Further, it is to be noted that the clip is -provided with a pair of forwardly projecting apertured tongues 24 which receive the horizontal pivot rod 25. This rod 25 may be either pivotally carried by the tongues 24 or else may be socketed within the bearing members 26 secured to the sides 27 of the chair back. It is to be noted that the upright 20 is curved inwardly (see Figure 10) to 'provide room for the swinging of the bottom 28 of the frame for the back. The top 29 of the frame can swing over the upper end of the upright 20. It is apparent that by having therod 20 rigidly carried by the tongues 24 that lateral shifting of the back cannot occur. The mem-` bers 26 are inset in apertures formed in the sides,27, as shown, and are provided with projecting feet through which screws or vtacks pass, as shown in Flgure 1Q.

It will be seen that a full floating automatically adjusting back has been provided which is formed in a novel manner and which around the edges of' said frame and secured.

thereto and a yielding padding interposed between said backin memberand said cover and between said rame and said cover, said padding being thickestadjacent the center of the back and gradually thi-nnin out the edges of said frame, the said cover eing substan-4 tiall straight along lines adjacent its center and eing slightly bowed along vertical lines.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands. WALTER J. JOHNSON. ARTHUR L. JOHNSON.

wholly avoids any possibility of cutting or y other discomfort to the user.A

Although the invention'has been described u in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such' invention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim: l v y 1. A back constructionv for a chair comprising a' rigid marginal frame havin a top,

side members, and an upwardlyl an, rearwardly curved'bottom member, said bottom member being larger than said-top, said side arched, an inelastlc backing member secured to said frame on its front face and being rearwardly bowed, a flexible front cover wrapped around the edges of said rameandvsecured thereto, and a yielding padding interposed between said backing member and said cover and between said frame and said cover, said i members being ta ered and being forwardly. Y

padding being thickest' adjacent the center of i the back and gradually thinning at the edges of said frame, the said cover being substanvtially straight along horizontal lines adjacent its center and being slightly bowed vforwardly gravity, aninelastic backing member secured to said frame on its front face and being rearwardly bowed, a flexible front cover wrapped 

